>> reporter: homeland security secretary janet napolitano visited staten island today. she was here to help assure residents that they will be getting the assistance that they need. but, scott, the recovery here is going to be a long one. houses are destroyed, power lines are down, the destruction is everywhere. >> pelley: anna, it was just earlier today that the mayor insisted that the marathon would go on. word that he has canceled it now is just reaching the runners where michelle miller is tonight. michelle? >> reporter: scott, that is definitely the case. we spoke to a group of irish runnerrunners who arrived just . they are furious. they say they spent some $30,000 to fly over here today. they understand what the people are going through but they just believe that postponing the race this late in time was just the wrong decision. some 47,000 runners were expected to compete on sunday but critics say that starting the race in staten island, a place so devastated by the storm was insensitive and that it would be a drain to vital emergency services. mayor bloomberg o